Railroad-crossing signal and process of operating the same



Aug. 3,1926.

- K. M. BARD RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL AND PROCESS OF OPERATING THE SAME Filed Nov. '50. 1923 IN VEIVTOR kmfiww. m 66.

A TTORNE Y8 Patented Aug. 3, 19236,

UNITED STATES KENNETH M. BARD, OF MANAWA, WISCONSIN.

RAILROAD-CROSSING SIGNAL AND PROCESS OF OPERATING THE SAME.

Application filed November 30, 1923.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad crossing signal, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a railroad crossingsignal which is illuminated by the light of the locomotive of the approaching train, whereby the person approaching the railroad crossing knows that a train is approaching when the signal is illuminated, since the device is only illuminated by the headlight of a train.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the headlight is provided with novel flashing means for causing a light to be intermittently flashed therefrom thereby more readily attracting attention than a light which has a steady beam.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the intermittent means is controlled by the speed of the engine, whereby a person approaching the crossing can know by the rapidity of the signals the approximate speed at which the train is approaching.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the signal becomes more illuminated as the engine approaches the crossing, thus providing another means of warning the person approaching the crossing of the proximity of the engine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a process for flashing a'warning signal at railroad crossings when a train approaches the crossing which consists in intermittently flashing a light from the approaching train upon a warning signal that is disposed adjacent to the railroad crossing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which."

the signals disposed at the crossings are made of various shapes, so as to change the direction of the light from the locomotive so as to cause the light to flow in the direction of the road.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction, durable, and efficient for the purpose intended, and which is not likely to get out of order easily.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be articularly pointed. act the appended claims;

erial No. 677,818.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a railroad crossing showing how the light from a headlight of a locomotive is directed down a road that crosses the track,

Figure 2 s a front elevation of the locomotive headlight showing the intermittent device operatively applied thereto,

Figures 3 and i are top plan views oi the headlight showing the intermittent mecha nism in closed and open position respectively, and

Figure 5 is a front elevation of one form of signal.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a track 1 and a locomotive 2. A road 3 is shown crossing the track. A signal 4 is placed adjacent to the track and to the road so as to throw the light from the headlight 5 down the road as shown in Figure 1. The signal 4, as shown in Figure 1, is a rectangle, and is adapted to cause the light from the headlight 5 to be bentat right angles so as to be directed down the road that extends on each side of the track. It will further be noted that the light will be reflected down the road that extends on each side of the track no matter whether the locomotive is disposed in the full line position shown in Figure 1 or in the dotted line position. A detail view of the signal 4 is shown in Figure 5 and consists of two rectangular frames 6 that are carried by a support 7. The frame 6 in turn supports mirrors 8. The mirrors 8 in the signal 4 are disposed at right angles to each other so as to direct the light from the headlight at right angles. It is obvous that if the road 3 extended at any other angle with respect to the track 1 than at right angles, the signal 4 would have its mirrors 8 so arranged as to direct the light from the headlight down this road. Also when the light from the locomotive, reflected from the signal, is supposed to cover a greater area than is possible with a flat mirror, the mirror could be curved so as to cause the light to be directed over this greater area. In this manner the signals can be shaped so as to fulfill various conditions of lighting problems.

In Figures 2, 3, and 4, I have shown an intermittent mechanism that is adapted to cause the light of the locomotive to flash on and off so as to the signal 4;- to flash intermittently. This construction comprises a plurality of rods 9 that carry plates 10, the plates when in the closed position covering the entire front of the headlight 5, (see Fig ure Arms 11 are connected to the rods 9 and in turn have their free ends connected to an actuating link 12. The link is peratively connected to the driving wheels of the engine, whereby the link will be oscillated while the engine is moving. Furthermore, this oscillating will be ii creased as the speed of the engine is increased, due to the fact that thewheels will be rotating at a greater speed. As the linl: l2 is oscillated, it will open and close the plates or shutters so as to cause the light to be intermittently projected "from the headlight. The mechanism (not shown) which connects the link 12 to the wheels of the locomotive may be of any construction desired.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. Assume that a tr in is approaching the road The light from the headlight 5 not only floods the track 1 but also strikes the two sides of the signal 4 that are disposed adjacent to the approaching train. These sides are disposed at such an angle with respect to the light rays from the headlight that they will send the light down the road that ere tends from both sides of the track. It is obvious that when the rays of light from the headlight 5 -iirst strike the signal t that they are very faint, since the train is a greatdistance oh. This reflected light, however, intensifies as the train approaches the signal. In thi's way, any person approaching the track will know approximately how far off the train is to the road. The intermittent mechanism provides another means of ascertaining the speed of the locomotive, since the flashes or light will vary according to the speed of the train. It is obvious tliatthe' signal cannot flash a warning signal until the train actually approaches the crossing. In this manner, the device has a great advantage over the automatic devices that are controlled by closing of switches or the like. If these automatic devices should get out of order, they might operate even though a train were not approaching the crossing. This device also hasan advantage over plain danger signalswhich are dis posed at the railroad crossings, and which.

illuminated by the lights of an approachiiig automobile, in that this signal is only illuminated by the lights of an approaching train, and is not afi'ected hy the lights of automobiles. The signal is disposed approximately seveii feet above the ground, so as to beout of the way of the rays of automobile headlights. In case of fog, the light beam from the headlight may be readily seen. The device is extremely simple in construction andoperation, and provides a novel and eflicient means for flashing warning signals at railroad crossings in advance of the approaching train.

It will be seen from Figure t that the link 12 is connected by a bellcrank lever to an actuating rod 21. The i'od 21 in turn is connected to one or the driving wheels 22 of the engine. This showing is merely diagran'iiiiatic in Figure & and is for the purpose of showing some means for actuating the vanes 10.

I claim:

1. The herein described process for flashing awarning signal at a railroad crossing which consists in projecting an intermittent beam or light from a train upon a warning signal situated at the railroad crossing, whereby the intermittently illuminated signal warns interested parties of the ap' preaching train.

2. The combination with alocomotive headlight, of a reflector adapted to reflect the rays, from the headlight, at an angle to the track whereby the reflected rays are adapted to illiiminate a road near the railroad tracks, and means for intermittently shutting oh the rays from the headlight.

. 3. The combination with a locomotive headlight, of a reflector disposed along a track for the locomotive and bein adapted to reflect the light, from the l i'eadlight, down a road on either side of the track no matter in what direction the locomotive is approaching .the reflector, and means for intermittently shutting on the rays from the headlight.

4. The combination with locomotive headlight, of a reflector adapted to reflect the rays from the headlight, at an angle to the track whereby the reflected rays are adapted to flash warning signals on the road near the railroad track, means for intermittentl Y shutting ed the rays from the headlight, said means being controlled by the speed of the locomotive, wherebythe" speed of the locomotive determines the rapidity of the signals.

5. The combination with a locomotive headlight, ot areflector disposed along a track for the locomotive and being adapted to reflect the light, from the headlight, down a road on either side of the track no matter in what direction the locomotive is approaching the reflector, means for intermittently shutting off the rays from the headlight so as to cause said reflector to flash warning signals, said means being controlled by the speed of the locomotive,

whereby the speed of the locomotive determines the rapidity of the signals.

6. The combination with a locomotive headlight of a reflector disposed along a track foijtlie locomotive, said reflector having polished exterior surfaces that are disposed .at such an angle with respect to each other, a road, and the track, that the sides will reflect the beams of light from the headlight in the direction of the road that extends from either side of the track, and means for intermittently shutting off the rays from the headlight.

7. The combination with a locomotive headlight of a reflector disposed along a track for the locomotive, said reflector having polished exterior surfaces that are disposed at such an angle with respect to each other, a road, and the track, that the sides will reflect the beams of light from the headlight in the direction of the road that extends :from either side of the track, means for intermittently shutting off the rays from the headlight, said means being controlled by the speed of the locomotive, whereby the speed of the locomotive determines the rapidity of the signals.

8. A vehicle having a headlight, means for intermittently flashing said headlight, a reflector disposed in the path of the vehicle for directing the rays of light from the headlight transversely to the direction of the vehicle.

KENNETH M. BARD. 

